JACKO
UPDATE
Just think of us as your daily Jacko catch up service. Yes,
things got going proper in the Jacko child abuse case yesterday
as lawyers for both the defence and prosecution presented their
opening statements to the court in Santa Maria, California.

First
things first, Judge Rodney S. Melville confirmed the accuser
in the new case was one Gavin Arvizo, adding that it was OK
for the media to report that fact. Strangely, despite the fact
the media have been calling for a relaxation of the strict media
regulations surrounding the case for months, and even though
it was widely reported that Arvizo was most likely the accuser
when the new allegations first surfaced in late 2003, many media
outlets chose not to name Arvizo, though presumably they won't
be able to keep that up for the full six months the trial is
expected to run. Jackson, of course, first met Arvizo when he
was suffering from cancer as part of a programme that gives
young cancer patients the opportunity to meet their heroes.

Santa
Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon, a long term adversary
of Jackson, spoke for the prosecution. He alleged a number of
ways in which Jacko had behaved inappropriately with Arvizo
- giving him alcoholic drinks, discussing masturbation, surfing
porn websites together. These events, Sneddon argued, were designed
to attack the young teenagers 'moral antenna', providing
Jackson the opportunity to subsequently abuse the boy. "It
was a calculated attempt to desensitise and change his moral
antenna and to add the trust and attention of an adult voice
to convince him that what was being done was alright, and it
worked. The private world of Michael Jackson is quite different
from what he reveals in the Martin Bashir video and instead
of 'cookies and milk' you can substitute 'wine, vodka
and bourbon'". This behaviour, the prosecution
argue, was the forerunner for something more sinister - Arvizo's
younger brother, it is alleged, twice stumbled into Jacko's
secret bedroom to see the singer abusing Gavin. More details
on those particular allegations are sure to be presented in
the coming weeks, with the prosecution saying Arvizo himself
will take to the witness stand to describe his experiences with
Jackson.

In
a bid to discredit a video that shows the Arvizo family saying
that Jacko had never acted inappropriately around the two young
brothers, the prosecution were keen to stress the threats that
had been made against the family by Jacko's people. The
prosecution claim the family were forced to make the video against
their wishes as Jackson panicked after his reputation fell to
pieces after the screening of Martin Bashir's controversial
Jacko documentary. As the family became less and less compliant
with the Jackson clan's demands the threats to their
safety increased, it is alleged.

Speaking
for the defence, Jacko's lawyer Thomas Mesereau said
the charges were fake, silly and "they never happened",
adding that Jackson's Neverland ranch "is not a lure for
molestation, a magnet for crime - we will prove that in this
case". As expected, Mesereau set out the argument that
Arvizo's mother is a con-artist who has used her son's
former illness and past sexual abuse allegations to make money.
Mesereau: "There is a pattern by [the mother] and her children
to ensnare people for money. The best known celebrity and the
most vulnerable celebrity became the mark". As an aside
he also accused Martin Bashir, whose documentary is likely to
be a regular feature in this case, of also profiting by attacking
the vulnerable Jackson.
The case, as they say, continues.

Meanwhile,
the Rev Jesse Jackson has said the jury who will make the final
judgement on this case is "flawed" because it doesn't
include any black people. In a 'letter to the American people',
Jackson wrote: "It is simply inconceivable that, in a high
profile and highly sensitive case like this, that African Americans
would be omitted from the jury. What could the lawyers have
been thinking? If nothing else, it presents the appearance of
unfairness".

He
continues: "Michael Jackson, like every other American,
deserves his day in court, and a fair and even playing field.
But the lack of inclusion of even one African American on the
jury casts a cloud of reasonable doubt on the fundamental promise
and purpose of the courts: to provide a fair trial by a jury
of one's peers. Imagine another scenario: what if a Caucasian
was on trial and accused of molesting Black children, and faced
a jury composed of seven African Americans, four Hispanics,
one Asian and omitted Whites? Would that not appear unfair and
imbalanced?"

Jackson
also commented on the media circus that surrounds the case:
"From the beginning, this case has suffered from a barrage
of high profile accusations, a constant flow of leaks, and the
politicisation of the process by the prosecution. These factors,
and now the flawed jury selection process, will continue to
raise questions about whether this case is being conducted in
a fair and unbiased manner".

NEPTUNES
MAN TO COLLABORATE WITH CULLUM
Pharrell Williams is obviously in need of a credibility boost,
so he's hoping to gain a bit of cool by being seen with,
erm, Jamie Cullum. Yep, the Neptunes man is set to work with
Cullum on his new album after being impressed with the easy
listening troll's version of his hit 'Frontin'.
Williams isn't the only interesting choice of collaborator
for Cullum's next album - Gorillaz/ Handsome Boy Modeling
School man Dan The Automator is also reportedly going to work
on some tracks.

--------------------------------------------------

EXTRA
U2 DATE
Loads of live news for ya. First up, U2 have added a second
Manchester date on their forthcoming UK tour. They will play
the City Of Manchester Stadium on 15 Jun in addition to the
existing 14 Jun date. So now you know.

--------------------------------------------------

COLDPLAY
GIGS
Next up, Coldplay have confirmed five UK dates for this summer.
According to Xfm they will play the following:

ALBUM
REVIEW: Jazztronik - Samurai (Pantone Music)
One of Tokyo's finest nu-jazz keyboardists hits us with a stormer
of an LP. Utilizing his classical training to good effect, Jazztronik
(real name Ryota Nozaki) combines classical influences with
dance rhythms to great effect. From the rather abstract chants
of 'Muddy Muddy' to the superb keys-over-a-house-montage of
the title track, the word 'stunning' comes to mind on
more than one occasion. Elsewhere 'Phoenix', slightly more housey
but with elements of a Detroit sound, is exquisite. 'Things
We Like' has a rap / urban thing going on, 'Nana' brings in
a bit of Braziliance, 'Froro' has an afrobeat aspect to it while
'Colour of Days' is pure jazz (and something Gilles Peterson
will delight in, and crafted - aloha). 'Piano' is a good crossover
track, something of a hip hop instrumental with a breaksy edge,
while last track 'Dance With Me'is a dancefloor orientated
number that MaW would be proud off. Needless to say, it's
a great little album; Nozaki is one to keep an eye on, a new
Louis Vega from Japan. Any backers here? PV
Release date: 4 April
Press contact: Mukatsuku PR

--------------------------------------------------

PRODIGY
ADDED TO V BILL
More gig dates in a minute, but over to the festivals desk now
and news that the Prodigy will headline the second stage at
this year's V Festival. They will play the festival's
Weston Park site on 20 Aug and at the Hylands Park site on 21
Aug, alternating with the Chemical Brothers.

Commenting
on the latest addition, V Fest director Bob Angus told reporters:
"With the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers now confirmed
to headline the second stage, we are headed for a really stellar
line-up. We pride ourselves on putting on an unbeatable live
music experience and V Festival 2005 will not disappoint."

--------------------------------------------------

NEW
ORDER ADDED TO T BILL
In Scotland, meanwhile, New Order have been added to the bill
of the already sold out T In The Park. They join an already
packed bill featuring fellow headliners Green Day and Foo Fighters,
plus The Killers, Prodigy, Audioslave, Razorlight, Biffy Clyro,
Embrace, Ian Brown, Kasabian, Keane, The Streets, Beautiful
South and The Coral.

--------------------------------------------------

CLICKMUSIC
SHOWCASE ROCK IDOL FINALISTS
Clickmusic.com will be providing some backstage coverage to
upcoming finals of Rock Idols, which is a national student battle
of the bands type thing (not to be confused with the National
Student Music Awards, though similar!).

Following
a string of heats around the country seven finalists will bid
for the overall Rock Idol prize at the final at ULU on 6 Mar.
If you're interested to know what the final seven are
like, then you can stream tracks from each of them at http://www.clickmusic.com.
You can also watch interviews with each of the finalist via
Click's video-on-demand bit Click TV.

Rock
Idol organiser Jonathan Stoddern explains: "This is great
exposure for bands from all over the UK, who have fought hard
through ten qualifying heats. There is so much exciting talent
among the finalists. This will give them the recognition they
rightly deserve."

As
the finals for this year's awards approach organisers
are already inviting bands to submit demos for consideration
for next year's competition. More details at http://rock-idols.co.uk
or http://clickmusic.com.

--------------------------------------------------

SNOW
PATROL WORKING ON NEW ALBUM
Snow Patrol have begun work on the follow up to 'Final Straw',
now in the tricky position of having to write an album which
they know will be very much under the spotlight when it is released
later this year. A spokesman for Polydor told Billboard: "We
hope to have a new record later this year, but it'll be ready
when it's ready. We're not putting any pressure on the guys
to deliver it. They've got a few tunes in the pipeline and they're
pretty confident about them." The band hope to get the
album together during an eight week writing and recording stint
in Dingle, South West Ireland.

--------------------------------------------------

SONYBMG
PLAN TO EXPAND COPY PROTECTION
Does anyone else find that the copy-protected promo CDs that
come from EMI knacker your computer, go all crazy when you try
to open Microsoft Office and frequently crash Windows when you
eject them? Ah well, at least they give the CMU IT team something
to do - they love nothing more than hacking copy protected CDs,
not because they want to rip the tracks, but just because they
like hacking things. Anyway - all this talk of copy protected
disks because SonyBMG has confirmed it will be adding such technology
to some major forthcoming releases, despite Sony saying last
year that they were going to stop using copy-protection because
most such systems were flawed.

Copy-protection
technology prevents consumers from ripping copies of tracks
off CDs onto their PCs of course. The use of such technology
has been controversial for two reasons. Firstly, many of the
early types of copy-protection technology interfered with the
way CDs played, meaning they did not play at all on certain
CD player systems. Secondly, others argue that music fans should
be able to make duplicate copies of CDs for their own personal
use once they have bought the full album. Those objections came
under the spotlight last year when Belgium-based consumer group
Test-Achats, albeit unsuccessfully, sued the record labels over
their use of copy-protection technology, arguing they were violating
consumer rights.

Nevertheless,
SonyBMG will extend the use of new copy-protection technologies
following its seemingly successful implementation on the recent
Velvet Revolver release. New albums from The Chieftains, Kasabian,
and Susie Suh will now all feature such technology - either
SunnComm's MediaMax or First4Internet's XCP -
and if there are no major reported problems after those releases
the technology is likely to be used a wider range of SonyBMG
releases.

--------------------------------------------------

MOVES
AFOOT TO INCREASE THE DOWNLOAD PRICE POINT
While Apple are under pressure from consumer rights groups to
reduce the price of downloads on the UK version of iTunes (to
bring them in line with the prices on the French and German
versions), others are mounting a bid to get them to increase
prices. According to the Financial Times, EMI and Warner Music
are both pushing the legitimate download platforms to consider
increasing the price of downloads across the board.

Many
inside labels fear that if mainstream download retailers like
Walmart in the US and Woolworths in the UK initiate a price
war in the digital music space, that will eventually kick back
on the record labels who will be pressured into reducing their
per-track revenue. Meanwhile others still resent the fact that
Apple essentially set the rate record labels can expect to earn
from download sales when they first launched iTunes. Others
also point out that price points in the mobile music space -
for both ring tones and mobile downloads - are higher.
Some execs wonder how long the market can sustain such price
anomalies.

However
Apple, in particular, have always resisted attempts to raise
the price point on their download sales. Last year the download
platform wouldn't even alter its one-price-fits-all policy
for the charity single 'Do They Know Its Christmas',
which was retailing elsewhere for £1.49 (GBP) rather than
iTunes' UK price of 79p per track.

But
moves to increase download prices don't even have unanimous
support across the music industry. Universal Music and SonyBMG
are both said to be wary of price increases, fearing that altering
prices now could negatively impact on legitimate download sales
just as they are properly taking off.

--------------------------------------------------

NEW
DATE SET FOR MERGED CD AND DOWNLOAD SALES CHART
Talking of downloads and stuff, the new date for the merging
of download sales data into the UK singles chart is 17 Apr.
As previously reported, that date has been pushed back from
20 Mar because the BPI is concerned many independent labels
are yet to get their tracks sold on a sufficient number of download
platforms to ensure they have the same access to music consumers
as the majors.

--------------------------------------------------

ALBUM
REVIEW: The Arcade Fire - Funeral (Rough Trade)
I heard a lot of great things about this album before I listened
to it: certainly it had ecstatic reviews when it was released
in the US last year. Perhaps inevitably, on first listen it
was a bit disappointing, but many of the best records are an
acquired taste and this proves to be the case with The Arcade
Fire. It's a record which brings more pleasure with each
play. The Montreal band have made an emotional and heartfelt
album. Layer upon layer of instrumentation is built up to create
a rich, orchestral sound. There's a great range of instruments
from the delicate tinkle of the xylophone to fast, choppy guitars.
The swelling violins on 'Crown of Love' even create
a waltz like effect. Some songs build up to a traditional crescendo
but there are frequent changes of pace to keep things interesting.
The album's title refers to recent deaths in the families
of band members but the mood is uplifting rather than sombre,
and lyrically there are hints of magic realism. The words to
'Tunnels' run; "And if my parents are crying
I'll dig a tunnel from my window to yours. You climb
out of the chimney and meet me in the middle." 'Laika'
is about a brother who was bit by a vampire and has his tears
collected in a cup, while in 'Power Cut' the parents'
eyes are covered in ice. The vocals of Win Butler are affecting
and his wife/band member Regine Chassagne also contributes her
sweet girlish voice to several tracks. This album was clearly
a cathartic experience for the band to make and it's
a rewarding, magical record for the listener. JW
Release date: 28 Feb
Press contact: Cool Delta

--------------------------------------------------

TEENAGE
KICKS LIMITED EDITION RE-RELEASE
Sanctuary Records are releasing a new compilation on 4 Apr celebrating
the glory days of punk and new wave. Called 'Teenage Kicks'
it features more or less everyone you'd expect to see
on there - The Jam, The Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Specials,
The Undertones, Blondie, Joy Division and Madness to name a
few.

To
promote it Sanctuary will re-release the four track EP which
first brought the title track, 'Teenage Kicks',
and The Undertones to wider attention back in 1978 (the EP which
introduced one John Peel to the band - and the rest,
as they say, is history). The EP features four tracks - Teenage
Kicks, Smarter Than U, True Confessions and Emergency Cases.
The EP will be only be available in 7" vinyl, and only
1000 will be pressed, so they should be quite collectable.

Press
info from Noble PR.

--------------------------------------------------

MORRISSEY
LIVE ALBUM
Talking of releases from the Sanctuary stable, a live Morrissey
album will be released, also on 4 Apr. A recording of the Earls
Court date of his UK tour last year it features previously unperformed
b-sides plus solo and Smiths hits. According to NME the full
tracklisting runs thus: 'How Soon Is Now', 'First Of The Gang
To Die', 'November Spawned A Monster', 'Don't Make Fun
Of Daddy's Voice', 'Bigmouth Strikes Again', 'I Like You', 'Redando
Beach', 'Let Me Kiss You', 'Munich Air Disaster', 'There Is
A Light That Never Goes Out', 'The More You Ignore Me The
Closer I Get', 'Friday Mourning', 'I Have Forgiven Jesus', 'The
World Is Full Of Crashing Bores', 'Shoplifters Of The World
Unite', 'Irish Blood, English Heart', 'You Know I Couldn't
Last' and 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me'.

--------------------------------------------------

PINK
GREASE SINGLE AND TOUR
When you are releasing a new single called 'Peaches'
one would assume at the top of your remix wish list would be,
erm, Peaches. Well, that bit of marketing logic has worked out
for Pink Grease - the single release of their excellent
new single of that name does in deed feature a remix courtesy
of Peaches. Hurrah. The single, which also features a very fine
remix from Riton, is out on 28 Mar.

While
were on Pink Grease, let's get back into the live music
news domain, because here are the band's upcoming gig
dates:

TEENAGE
FANCLUB GIGS
Last bit of live news, and Teenage Fanclub will mark the release
of their new album 'Man-Made' with two special shows
in Glasgow and London later this month. They will play the London
Scala on 29 Mar and the Mitchell Theatre in Glasgow on 31 Mar
- press info from Triad.

--------------------------------------------------

SINGLE
REVIEW: Pnau - We Love The Fresh Kills (Underwater)
Well Pnau, the antipodean electro-maniacs are at it again! Following
the previous electronic fiend of a track 'Again', the men, also
known as Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes, unleash 'We Love The
Fresh Kills'. The great name is apparently an ode to Peter's
band, The Fresh Kills, who are "Sydney's most fucked-up
band"(in case you didn't know) and the track stays true
by being pretty fucked-up itself - good to stay with
the theme I guess. Having said that, this little beauty is that
little bit lighter than the techno we heard with 'Again' and
probably more palatable for many, though this is still not one
for the kids! After the long bleepy intro gently coaxes you
in, an incredibly intoxicating breaks pattern and deep, head-bopping
bass-line appears, that then makes no hesitation in cheekily
dragging you into the naughty end of the track; chock-a-block
with dirty, electro thrills. A noisy break pauses the acidic,
synth-heavy action briefly, before it all kicks back in with
a wallop, making this excellent production a shady club beast
- one that I would have a bloody good bop to at my local
discoth'que! I say! OG
Release date: 21 Mar
Press contact: Darling

--------------------------------------------------

RECORD
NUMBER OF UK COMPANIES TO GO TO SXSW
A record number of UK companies are receiving support to attend
this year's South By South West festival in Austin, Texas
thanks to an initiative from the Association Of Independent
Music, backed by UK Trade & Investment, a government organisation
that provides support services for UK companies trading overseas.

All
in all no less than 56 UK companies will be on show at the convention
this year, with bands like American Music Club, Best Fwends,
Bikini Atoll, Black Moses, Blanche, Bloc Party, Heavy Deviance,
Freedom Republic, Hobotalk, Hot Chip, Jawbone, Jetscreamer,
Khus, Mary Lou Lord, Mandarin, Midlake, Anna Neale, Nizlopi,
SKE, The Arlenes, The Cribs, The Czars, The Dears, Martha Wainright
and Willard Grant Conspiracy among those appearing in showcases.

Commenting
on the funding programme, Phil Patterson of UK Trade & Investment
told CMU: "We are very pleased to continue our support
for the British delegation at South by South West for the third
year running and particularly pleased to be supporting directly
56 companies through our International Business Scheme, attending
via the AIM trade mission to the event. We are also delighted
to be involved in the largest ever programme of British events
taking place in Austin, to highlight the continued strength
and depth of British music, artists and composers available
to the world!"

AIM
boss Alison Wenham added: "With SxSW establishing itself
as the most important event in the international A&R calendar,
it's increasingly important that promising new acts have the
opportunity to attend. And these grants are helping more British
companies to showcase their acts at SxSW each year."

--------------------------------------------------

AIM
ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF FINANCE FAIR
Talking of AIM, the industry organisation will be staging its
annual Finance Fair on 9 Mar, bringing the UK music industry
together with finance types who are interested in the music
business. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? As
well as bringing music and money people together the event will
also feature a number of workshops and seminars on business
and finance type topics.

On
that event AIM's Alison Wenham told us: "Against
a backdrop of culture gaps between the music business and the
city, complexity in music contracts and difficulties in valuing
intangibles, this event will help foster valuable relationships
between UK music companies and the financiers. With UK record
sales rising for the second year running, the live industry
flourishing and some very substantial funds being raised for
music acquisitions, its timing is particularly auspicious."

Admission
to the event is free for AIM members, £25 for members
of other trade bodies, and £30 for everyone else. It all
takes place at ULU from 2 - 6pm.